Ferrari is expected to be one of the teams that will make a significant performance jump at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, aiming to narrow the gap to Mercedes in what promises to remain a highly unpredictable 2026 season, according to Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle. Brundle sees the return of Formula One to the United States after the mandatory April hiatus as a sort of "relaunch" for the championship.
The break gave every team a longer window to develop their cars, which have been radically altered under the new regulations, and many hope those upgrades will reshuffle the competitive hierarchy. Mercedes, having secured victories in the first three races of the year, will head back to the paddock as the clear benchmark to beat. Their drivers, Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers' Championship, and his teammate George Russell, have demonstrated a dominant package that combines speed, reliability, and strategic acumen. Ferrari, however, sit just behind Mercedes in the Constructors' standings, with their two drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, occupying third and fourth places respectively, eight points apart.
Both drivers have delivered thrilling wheel‑to‑wheel duels, notably in the recent races in China and Japan, where Leclerc claimed a win in Shanghai while Hamilton recovered from a modest sixth‑place finish at Suzuka to finish third. Brundle highlighted Hamilton's renewed enthusiasm for the sport after his move to Ferrari. The British driver, who broke his long‑standing Grand Prix podium drought at the second round in Shanghai, appears to be thriving in a car that suits his driving style better than the ground‑effect machines of previous seasons.
"Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more," Brundle told Sky Sports News. "Ferrari is more competitive now, and I think they will make a big step for Miami.
Lewis obviously prefers this type of car to the brutal ground‑effect cars we saw before; it seems to match his style perfectly." The analyst added that Hamilton's mood has noticeably improved, attributing it to Ferrari's enhanced competitiveness. "He looks a lot happier because the car is giving him a real shot at winning," Brundle said. "He still needs to beat Charles Leclerc if he wants to clinch the world title, but if there’s even a whiff of victory on the horizon, Lewis is still very much capable of taking it." Both Hamilton and Leclerc have not won a race for their respective teams since 2024, with Ferrari’s last triumph coming in October when Carlos Sainz won in Mexico City. The upcoming Miami event will be the season’s second Sprint weekend, a format that has produced surprising results in recent years.
McLaren, for instance, has won the sprint race at Miami in each of the past two seasons, yet Mercedes remains the favourite due to its flawless start to the new‑era regulations in 2026. Despite Mercedes' early dominance, Brundle cautioned that it is still too early to declare a definitive pecking order under the new rulebook.
With 19 races still to run, the championship is wide open. "I think it’s totally wide open," he said.
"We have a Sprint weekend in Miami, so there are Sprint points to be won, Grand Prix points to be won. This is going to ebb and flow. I see teams leapfrogging each other with upgrades because there is so much upside potential with these cars.
Any of the top four teams, any of those eight drivers, could win this year’s world championship." The schedule for the Miami weekend is packed with action. On Thursday, April 30, the Drivers' Press Conference will kick off the festivities, followed by the Paddock Uncut session later that evening. Friday, May 1, will feature F2 practice, the first Miami GP practice session, and the F2 qualifying round, before moving on to the Team Bosses' Press Conference and the Sprint Qualifying session. Saturday, May 2, will see the F2 Sprint race, the build‑up to the Miami Sprint, the Sprint itself, and the associated analysis shows, including Ted’s Sprint Notebook and the qualifying build‑up.
The main event, the Miami Grand Prix, will take place on Sunday, May 3, with the F2 Feature Race in the afternoon, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up, the race itself, and post‑race coverage such as the Chequered Flag reaction and Ted’s Notebook. All sessions will also be available on Sky Sports Main Event.
Brundle’s outlook underscores the fluid nature of the 2026 season. The new aerodynamic concepts, power unit refinements, and extensive testing windows have given teams unprecedented opportunities to innovate.
Ferrari, in particular, appears poised to capitalize on its recent development work, potentially delivering a car that can challenge Mercedes on both the straight‑line speed and cornering fronts. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s adaptation to the Ferrari chassis suggests a driver‑car synergy that could translate into podium finishes and, if the upgrades click, race victories. In summary, the Miami Grand Prix represents a pivotal moment for the championship.
It offers a chance for Ferrari to prove that its development programme is bearing fruit, for Hamilton to reaffirm his status as a title contender, and for the entire grid to test the limits of the new regulations. As the season unfolds, fans can expect a dynamic battle where any of the top teams might seize the moment and rewrite the narrative of the 2026 Formula One campaign.